Driver in fatal crash asks for her license back

Diane O’Neill of Farmingville is led into Riverhead Town Court last month following a fatal accident in Jamesport. (Credit: Paul Squire, file)

The attorney for a former Southold High School math teacher who was arrested on a drunken driving charge in January after fatally striking a pedestrian in Jamesport has asked a Riverhead Town judge to return her client’s driver’s license.

Diane O’Neill, 65, of Farmingville is accused of driving drunk in a 2007 Mercedes-Benz on Jan. 13, when she struck and killed 90-year-old George Kurovics, a beloved barber and war veteran who lived nearby.

She was headed west on Main Road near Herricks Lane shortly after 7:15 p.m. when the crash occurred.

Ms. O’Neill was charged with driving while intoxicated and was released on $10,000 bail.
She later retired from Southold High School.

Her attorney, Eileen Powers of Riverhead, made a motion to have Ms. O’Neill’s license reinstated at a court appearance Wednesday morning in Riverhead Justice Court.

That request will be addressed at Ms. O’Neill’s next court appearance in March.